Another Huskies Moment

June 30, 2004

University of Connecticut basketball players have given this state some extraordinarily proud moments. In the most recent season, the men's and women's teams earned national championships. Emeka Okafor and Diana Taurasi were named to represent the United States at the Olympics. Ms. Taurasi was the No. 1 draft pick of the Women's National Basketball Association and is winning games for the Phoenix Mercury.

UConn's streak goes on.

Last week, Mr. Okafor and Ben Gordon added another honor for their school. They were chosen second and third in the National Basketball Association draft. Up to now, Donyell Marshall, picked fourth in 1994, held the record for highest UConn men's draft pick.

Both Mr. Okafor and Mr. Gordon wore their newfound millionairehood and professional team caps with humility and grace. As spokesmen for their school and the state, they stood above the crowd, not easy to do in a room full of basketball giants.

With an unprecedented number of players chosen for the NBA directly from high school, the worldly former Huskies seemed like men among boys. Yet their maturity did not stop them from being suitably childlike when faced with a future free of financial worries.

``Wow,'' was Mr. Okafor's reaction to being the first player drafted by the new Charlotte Bobcats.

Mr. Gordon, chosen by the Chicago Bulls, said of his good fortune, ``It's the greatest feeling in the world. It's like a fairy tale.''